Clasping-device for bracelets



Oct. 13, 1931. -c KESTENMAN 1,826,887

CLASPING DEVICE FOR BRACELETS Filed Feb. 15, 1950 16 bracelet.

= 50 sired.

Patented Oct.'13, 1931 UNITED sums I .onnsrine-nnvionron; BRACELETS I i 1' 5 1 cHAnnEsH. KESTENMAN, or r'ncvfrnnnos, mor ISLAND, ASSIGNOR To KESTENMAN 1330s. MFG. ea, or PROVIDENCE, nnonn ISLAND, A conronnrron or ,RI-IODE ISLAND a lication filed February 15, 1 920; S eria 1:I To.428,801. I

:This invention relates to'improvements' in clasps or fastening-devicesfor connecting the ends of wrist-watch straps, bands, bracelets or M thelike; One object of the invention is to provide'a clasp or fastening-device of simple construction which efiects a more secure joiner of the parts of the band orbracelet, and which is I proof against unwarranted'o'r accidental unc, fastening. 7 T Anotherobjectof the invention is to provide a clasp or fastening-device adapted for use with bands-or bracelets composed of cords orthelikefiv m 1?; Another object of" the invention is to provide a device ofthe type specified which is neat and ornamental in appearance, capable of being manufactured at low cost and proof in use. I r

Further objectsof the improvement are set forth in the following specification whichde scribes a preferred form of construction ofthe H device, by way of example as illustrated by in s: p H V ,Fig. 1 is a plan view, of the present improved clasping-device' showing it as applied to use for connecting the ends of a cord brace- Fig. 2 is a side View of the device i 7 7 Fig. 3 is a sectional view of thesame taken on line 33 of Fig. 1 showing theclasp opened;

Fig. 4: is a perspective view showing the clasp as disconnected from one of the termi nal-members of the band or bracelet; and i Fig. 5 is'a perspective View of thec'lampfor securing the terminal-member to the In accordance with a prevailing mode, wrist-watch straps and bracelets may beconr posed of twisted. or braided cords, leather 7, bands or other flexible straps conne'ct'ed'to '45 the bails ofthe watch andprovided with means for clasping their opposite ends around the wrist. I The present improved ,clasp is adapted for this type of bracelet'andalso for use p with metal against derangement or gettting out of order Y the accompanying drawings In the :draw g adapted to bite-into the end .of the strap'or' mesh or 'link bracelets if de Inthe present clrawingsthe clasp is shown as 'applied'to useona bracelet composed of double cords, the ends of which are looped for attachment to the wristwatch. Referring to Fig; l'of the drawings, the cord bracelet is therein represented as composed of two parallelcords 2 and 3 having their-ends gripped in terminal-members, 5 which are of the same construction. for both sections of the bracelet.

Each terminal-memberfi is constructed in the form of a box having a top portion 6 with closes the forward end of the terminal-member to give a more finished appearance to this 7 'Pivotecl between the sides 7 of the termi nal-member 5 is a clamp-member l2 consist ing of a flat'bladeor platehaving trunnions '13 projecting throughholes in the sides.

The clamping platel2-is provided at its piv oted end withaniupturned serrated jaw 14:

band, iii-this case to engage the ends'of the cords 2 and 3 when the clamp is swung into position: with its end resting against the edge ofthe downturned'portion 10 ofthe member 5." The lower edge of the flap 10 of the memher '5 is formed with a notch l1 throughwhich the point ofa suitable instrument may be inserted to pry the endof the, clampi12 downwardly, as shown by dash lines in Fig. 3,-

to releasits jawl from the end of the cords 2 and 3 when it is desired to detach the latter.

is-c'onstructed' in the form of a box-having" site ends with circular loops 18 and l9-f0rmed byextensions of the base 16. One end loop 18 is bentfcompletely around with itsend abutting the edges of the side flanges 17 fQThe main-*cl'a'spelementor connector l5 as whereby to close the loop; while'at theother endthe loop 19 has its end spaced away from the curved edges of the side flanges l7 toform' a hooln Theloop 18 is'hooked around the end-bar 9 on oneof the terminal-members 5 before being bent into closed relation with the sides 17 of the element 15, and the openended loop 19 is adapted to be hooked around the end-bar 9 of the terminal-member on the opposite end of the band or bracelet, see Fig. 3. Through this arrangement, one end of the bracelet is permanently fastened to the clasp while the opposite end is adapted to be manually attached to and detached therefrom required.

The open loop or end-hook 19 has means cooperating therewith to close its opening to lock it in clasped connection with the crossbar of the terminal-member 5, this means forming one of the features of improvement of the present invention.

The locking-means for the clasp consists in pivoted element 20 constructed in the form of a cover for enclosing the top and sides of the main element 15. The locking-member 20 is provided with a top plate 21 and side flanges 22 folded downwardly therefrom to overlap the sides 17 of the element 15. A pivot-pin 25 projects through holes in the sides 17 of the element 15 with its ends riveted through holes in the side flanges 22 of the locking-member 20. It is to be especially noted that the member 20 is pivoted to the main element15 at a point adjacent the opening of the hook 19, the relation of the parts being such that when the member 20 is closed down against the element 15 the forward edge 24 of the top plate 21 is tilted upwardly to lie alongside, in substantially abutting relation to the edge of the beak of the hook 19.

The side-flanges 1' of the element 15 are formed with longitudinal slots 26 and the sides 22 of the member 20 are punched in or indented to form detent-protuberances 27 on their inner faces adapted to snap into the aforementioned slots when the parts are closed together as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. ()n the rearward edge of the top plate 21 of the member 20 is an upwardly curled lip 28, providing means for lifting the lockingmember by inserting the fingernail thereunder. The method of operation of the improved device is as next explained.

The end of each section of the band or bracelet, composed of the two cords2 and 3 as herein illustrated, is fastened to a terminal-member 5 by inserting it into-the hollow portion thereof with the clamp 12 turned back into the position illustrated by dash lines in Fig. 3. The clamp 12 is then swung on its pivots to bring its free end against the bottom edge of the portion of the terminalmember. Under this action the teeth on the jaw 14 of the clamp will bite into the cords to bind them securely within the sides of the terminal-member 5 which thus encloses the ends of the cords and protects them from fraying or ravelling.

The clasp-element 15 is secured to one of the terminal-members 5, during the process of assembling the parts, by bending its loop 18 around the cross-bar 9 to close its edge against the edges of the side flanges 17 on the member 15.

The other terminal-member 5 is attached to the opposite end of the bracelet length in the same manner with its cross-bar 9 adapted to be engaged with the hook 19 of the element 15 when the locking-member 20 is rocked upwardly into the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 1. After the bracelet has been placed around the wrist and its ends connected in the manner as above explained the locking-member 20 is swung down against the main element 15 of the clasp with its side flanges 22 overlapping the flanges 17, the detent-protuberances 2'? being thus caused to snap into the slots 26 to retain the parts of the clasp in closed relationship. As the free end of the locking-member 20 is swung down against the bottom clasp-element 15 the forward edge 24: of its top plate 21 is tilted upwardly into opposite, abutting relation to the open end of the hook 19 to close the entrance to the hook as shown in Fig. 2'. With the locking-member 20 in closed position the loop 8 on the terminalanember 5 will be held against release from the hook 19 and the ends of the bracelet will thus be securely fastened in connected relationship. Any force tending to release the cross-bar 9 on the terminal-member 5 from the hook 19 will serve to maintain the locking-member 20 more firmly in its closed position, rather than to force it open. That is to say, as the cross-bar 9 is forced back toward the entrance of the hook it will engage the forward edges of the side-s of the locking-mem ber 20, thus tending to prevent the latter from swinging into open position. Due to this novel construction and arrangement of the parts with the pivot of the locking-member 20 disposed adjacent the opening of the hook l9 and the forward edge of its top plate 21 above the pivot point, the clasp is proof against unwarranted opening and is therefore much more secure than other forms of similar devices, where a pull on the bracelet tends to swing the locking-device open.

When it is desired to unclasp the bracelet the fingernail is inserted under the lip 28 of the locking-member 20 to swing the latter upwardly into open position as shown in Fig. The forward edge 24 of the member 20 will thus be tilted downwardly to open the hook to permit the release of the cross-bar 9 therefrom. v

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a particularly simple yet efficient means for clasping the ends of a band, strap or bracelet to render it secure against accidental or unwarranted unfastening. The clasp proper comprises only two simple elements, the bottom-element 15 and the locking-member 20, and the terminal- 139 members 5 are likewise of simple construction and economical to manufacture. The com plete device is particularly neat and artistic in appearance, having the efiect of coupled box-links which conform closely to the shape of the strap or band to which they are applied and occupy a minimum of space. Moreover, the whole device is compact in formand ornamental in appearance with all of its mechanical elementsenclosed and concealed from view.

While the device is herein shown as embodied in a preferred form of construction, various modifications may be made in the shape and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a device of the'type specified, thecombination of a clasp-element comprising a bottom portion and upstanding sides with a hook at one end, a connecting-member forengagement with the hook of the clasp-element, a locking-member having a top portion with sides projecting downwardly therefrom to adapt them to straddle the sidesof ing or rocking whereby to preventaccidental or unwarranted release of the connectingmember from thewhook. 7 3. In a device of the type specified, the combination of aclasp-element having a bottom with opposite'sides projecting upwardly therefrom and a hook at onerend form'ed'by an extension of the bottom, a locking-member comprising a top plate with sides folded downwardly therefrom to straddle the sides I of the main clasp-element, means for pivoting the locking-member to the clasp-element to adapt the forward edge of its top plate to abut the endof the beak on the hook, detent-protuberances projecting inwardly from the sides of the locking-member, and elone gated slots on the sides of the clasp-element adapted to receive the detent-protuberances which snap thereinto to hold the lockingmember in closed position. I V

In testimony whereof I hereunto alfix my signature.

the clasp-element, and means for pivoting v the sides of the locking-member to the sides of the clasp-element with the forward edge of its top portion substantially abutting the end of the beak of the hook on the clasptend to hold the locking-member closed and prevent release of the connecting-member from the hook.

2. In a device of the type specified,-the

combination of a clasp-element comprising a bottom with sides projecting upwardly at right-angles thereto and a hook at one end formed by an extension of the bottom portion of said element, a locking-member comprising a top plate with sides folded downward- I ly therefrom to adapt them to straddle the sides of the clasp-element, said locking-member formed with an upwardly curled lip at its rearward end for lifting said member'by the insertion of the fingernail thereunder, and 1 i a pivot extending laterally through the sides of the locking-member and the sides of the clasp-element to position the locking-member with the forward edge of its top plate I abutting the end of the beak of the hook while adapting it to be rocked into the opening of the hook to open the latter to receive a connecting-member, the forward vertical CHARLES H.KESTENMAN. 

